The Utah State Board of Education’s Adult Education Program, in partnership with the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), invites you to join us in celebrating Utah’s Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. To recognize adult education and family literacy students, Governor Cox signed a declaration to recognize September 15-21, 2024, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in Utah.
Over 30 million Americans over the age of 25 – or one out of every nine U.S. citizens – do not have a high school diploma. Adult education is working to change that. Adult education programs in Utah served over 14,000 students during 2023-2024, awarding almost 2,000 high school diplomas and GEDs.
“Promoting programs such as these open doors for students of all ages,” said Utah Adult Education Coordinator Stephanie Patton.
Research from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that, “Forty-two percent of jobs in 2031 will require at least a bachelor’s degree, while only 28 percent will go to workers with a high school diploma or less.” Adults who participate in adult education have the opportunity to explore career pathways and hone their skills so that they can advance their careers through postsecondary education or training.
Adult education in Utah includes 40 programs around the state located within local education agencies and community-based organizations, with sites providing services in county jails and state prisons.
Adult education and family literacy programs serve adults who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, obtain a high school diploma, and prepare for postsecondary education or training.
Family literacy programs serve parents and their young children, teaching basic skills, English as a Second Language, and parenting skills to adults while their children are provided high-quality instruction. These programs are focused on breaking the cycles of low literacy, low education, and poverty.
You can find an adult education program near you in the Adult Education Program Directory.
The Coalition on Adult Basic Education is the premier national professional association of adult educators. Over 82,000 educators strong, COABE’s mission is to inspire educators so that adults succeed and communities thrive. Website: www.coabe.org.
